PP Construction Safety has reported that Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd - an ejector seat manufacturer - have been fined £800,000 after three workers developed debilitating lung conditions. The three engineering operators developed extrinsic allergic alveolitis after being exposed to the mist of working metal fluid for a large number of years. The lung condition, also known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, is the body's allergic reaction to breathing in a substance and symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath and joint pain.
The workers had served for the company for more than 20 years, and were exposed to the working metal fluid mist for at least three years. The fluid is used as a lubricant and coolant in engineering processes. During these processes the fluid creates a mist, which in this particular case it has been inhaled by roughly 60 workers. One of the workers has been seriously affected by this incident, and he is now virtually paralysed by this illness. Another will never be able to work with the fluid again - a key material in the engineering industry. And the final worker must have measures in place to ensure he never comes into contact with the substance again.
HSE investigators found that the measures in place within the factory to control the exposure of the mist were inadequate. The company had failed to put in place a system of clearing away the excess fluid or providing extraction to prevent the build-up of the mist. There were also failings in the provision of health surveillance, which should have identified the issue early enough to ensure the company were able to put in place and monitor any appropriate safety measures.
The company have pleaded guilty and were fined £800,000 and ordered to pay costs of up to £36,912.36.
To ensure a similar incident doesn't happen to your company, ensure that there are suitable COSHH Signs have been put in place. To view our range of COSHH labels, click here.
COSHH stands for Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health. COSHH is a set of regulations that, since 2002, has governed the use of hazardous substances and chemicals in the UK.
The regulations were put into place so as to protect workers and other people from potentially dangerous substances. They state that employers must not expose their staff to such substances without first carrying out a risk assessment and taking steps to minimise the danger.
This can mean making changes that will make the substances themselves safer (e.g. using solids rather than liquids to prevent splashes and spills), but it also means identifying and labelling hazards so that everyone is aware of them.
This should be achieved through the use of COSHH-approved signs and tapes, which are specifically designed to effectively warn of substance-related dangers. These clearly marked and highly visible warning products can alert workers to a variety of hazards, including:
- Flammable goods
- Toxic substances
- Corrosives and irritants
- Biohazards
- Radioactive materials
COSHH signs should also be used to...
- ...remind workers of the appropriate precautions (e.g. keeping doors shut)
- ...advise the use of PPE
- ...warn of the presence of hazardous substances
- ...give additional information on the safe use of these substances
The COSHH regulations are designed to keep you, your employees, and everyone around you safe. Please visit the HSE website for further details, or select one of the links below to see our range of COSHH safety products.
